Chelsea Dating all the way back to Saxon times, Chelsea has had a rich and varied history and boasts possibly more blue plaques than any other part of London. It is an elegant and attractive district with several notable features along the Thames path. The Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673 as a place to be dedicated to botany and its applications. A small distance from the Thames path is the National Army Museum, tracing the history of the British army from the 1400s to the present day. Further along is the Royal Hospital Chelsea, an impressive building designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the gardens of which host the famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Parts of the Hospital itself are also open to the public. The embankment here, like the Victoria Embankment, was part of Sir Joseph Bazalgette's great works in building a new sewer system and riverside roadway. Links
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Watch the video to see Michael Holland of the Chelsea Physic Garden talking about its history and how it is used today. |